CNN iReport

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth  leading cause of cancer death in the United States. 76% of patients  will die in the first 12 months of diagnosis and the five year survival  rate is less than 5%.

Despite this, pancreatic cancer  is the most under-funded among leading cancer killers with less than  2% of the National Cancer Institutes annual research budget. 

In Kansas City, members of the Northland Hockey League and the Pepsi Ice Midwest Adult Hockey Leagues are pulling together for the third annual "Have A Skate With Bob" fundraiser for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Becky Klem was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August of 1999, and passed away from the disease that November. Her biggest fear in life was that her daughters would forget her.

In October 2007, Becky and Bob's oldest daughter, Rachel came up to him and asked why he had pink tape on his sticks.  When told that is was to support the NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer initiative in October, she said I needed to have purple tape on my sticks to honor Mom.

From there, a quick google search of pancreatic cancer led us to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network of El Segundo, CA, and Bob donated $10 for each game he won in November in Becky's memory.  Thanks to the other players and coworkers, the total raised was $2200.

Last year, Joe Lynch,  Captain of Walsh's Corner Cocktails' Fighting Leprechauns hockey club thought it would be a good idea to hold a benefit game, and on Nov 29, 30 KC adult players participated in our first benefit game.  We raised $6700 for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

This year, our benefit is growing again.  A feature article in USA Hockey Magazine, public appearances and TV interviews are helping to get the word out as we prepare for our game on November 28.

We have never met an opponent that we feared and pancreatic cancer is no exception.  Education, awareness, and medical advances will defeat this foe as we go for a skate with Bob in honor of Becky.

We are pleased to donate 100% of everything that is raised through Skate to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network as they raise awareness around pancreatic  cancer with everything they do, from driving advocacy among members of  congress for increasing research funding to hosting community events  around the country, they feel that increased awareness will result in  increased support, research and, eventually, a cure for this deadly  disease.

www.pancan.org

www.skatewithbob.weebly.com